Carlos Ezpeleta on the controversial topic of ‘tyre pressure’: ‘A cautious approach’

MotoGP is set to deliver thrilling action in 2026 – never before has the battle for the premier class world championship title been so close. Eight riders from six teams, riding three different makes, have won a Grand Prix so far.

But not everything is rosy. During the MotoGP’s visit to the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok at the weekend, the spectacle also had some highly questionable aspects. Key issue: tyre pressure. This is a consistently sensitive area with Michelin racing tyres, which can also lead to differences in performance. 1.8 bar is the prescribed minimum limit during racing.

Letting themselves fall back? Disquiet amongst the spectators

The premier class of motorcycling stands for pure spectacle: man-to-man battles, complete with paint chips flying onto the leather suits. The undignified riding by World Championship leader Jorge Martin in the Sprint and by Pedro Acosta on Sunday in the GP race – driven by the search for warm slipstream from the rider in front and concerns about insufficient tyre pressure – was once again unsettling. It simply does not fit with the very definition of the MotoGP World Championship.

In the case of Aprilia works rider Martin in particular, the scene seemed grotesque – the tyre pressure issue also played a central role in the fiercely contested World Championship duel amidst the heat of Indonesia. It was a weekend on which the ‘Martinator’ had the pace to gain even more points on Marc Marquez.

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Foto: Gold and Goose

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Quite a few people are wondering why the suggestion put forward by the long-suffering KTM rider Pedro Acosta isn’t being taken up straight away? In the interests of fairness, there should be a check shortly before the start of a race – after that, there should be no artificial regulation – every rider should be free to act as they see fit – without information on pit boards or stressful dashboard messages. The riders themselves have the best feel for what the technical package currently demands.

Carlos Ezpeleta, sporting director of the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, is aware of the delicate situation, but also emphasised during a media briefing: “The tyre pressure regulations were introduced because, whilst running at very low tyre pressure can offer a performance advantage, it can also pose safety risks. The rules, which are supported by both tyre partner Michelin and the manufacturers, aim to ensure safety and sporting fairness.”

Improvements only in the long term

The manager does not foresee any revolutionary changes to procedures in the near future either: “With regard to MotoGP’s switch to Pirelli in 2027, a cautious approach will be taken initially: the current protocol will remain in place, and safety is the top priority. In the long term, the aim is to develop tyres that are less affected when one rider follows another. It is also about eliminating any potential performance advantage gained by operating close to the minimum pressure limit.”

Carlos Ezpeleta also explained: “The latest technological developments in MotoGP – particularly in the areas of aerodynamics and systems for adjusting the bike’s ride height – have also contributed to a more complex role for tyre pressure.”

However, spectators who do not follow the MotoGP World Championship on a regular basis were left unnecessarily confused and with many unanswered questions last Sunday. And this should be taken very seriously.